Destinations in Korea
Fourteen places foreign travelers love, from Seoul's palaces to Jeju's volcanoes. Pick a city on the map to compare.
Seoul
서울Palaces, street food, K-pop and nightlife in one huge, easy-to-navigate capital.
- From Seoul
- You'll probably land here
- Stay
- 3–5 days
Don't miss Gyeongbokgung Palace · Gwangjang Market · Hongdae
- Late March to October (playoffs into November) KBO baseball season
- March Seoul Marathon
- Early April Yeouido Spring Flower Festival
Busan
부산Korea's beach city: seafood markets, hillside villages and temples by the sea.
- From Seoul
- KTX about 2h 40m
- Stay
- 2–3 days
Don't miss Gamcheon Culture Village · Haeundae & Blueline Park · Jagalchi Fish Market
- Late March to October Lotte Giants home games
- Late May or early June Haeundae Sand Festival
- Early August Busan Sea Festival
Jeju
제주A volcanic island of craters, beaches, tangerine farms and women free-divers.
- From Seoul
- Flight about 1h 10m
- Stay
- 3–4 days
Don't miss Seongsan Ilchulbong · Hallasan · Black pork
- March Jeju Fire Festival
- Late March to April Canola flower season
- November to January Tangerine season
Gyeongju
경주The 1,000-year capital of the Silla kingdom, a museum without walls.
- From Seoul
- KTX about 2h 10m
- Stay
- 1–2 days
Don't miss Bulguksa Temple · Daereungwon tombs · Donggung Palace at night
- Late March to early April Cherry blossoms at Bomun Lake
- October Silla Culture Festival
- Late October to mid-November Autumn foliage
Jeonju
전주Korea's food capital, with a hanok village of about 700 traditional houses.
- From Seoul
- KTX about 1h 40m
- Stay
- 1–2 days
Don't miss Jeonju Hanok Village · Bibimbap · Nambu night market
- Late April to early May Jeonju International Film Festival
- October Jeonju Bibimbap Festival
Incheon
인천Where most visitors land: a historic port, Chinatown and a futuristic new city.
- From Seoul
- Subway or AREX about 1h
- Stay
- Half day to 1 day
Don't miss Chinatown · Open Port area · Songdo Central Park
- Early August Incheon Pentaport Rock Festival
Suwon
수원A UNESCO-listed fortress city, an easy half-day trip from Seoul.
- From Seoul
- Subway about 1h
- Stay
- Half day to 1 day
Don't miss Hwaseong Fortress · Hwaseong Haenggung · Suwon galbi
- Late September or early October Suwon Hwaseong Cultural Festival
Gapyeong & Nami
가평Riverside day trip from Seoul: Nami Island, gardens and a K-drama theme village.
- From Seoul
- ITX train about 1h
- Stay
- 1 day
Don't miss Nami Island · Petite France · Garden of Morning Calm
- October Jarasum Jazz Festival
- Winter evenings Garden of Morning Calm lights
Guides coming soon
Gangneung
강릉East coast beaches, Korea's coffee town and sunrise over the sea.
- From Seoul
- KTX about 2h
- Stay
- 1–2 days
Don't miss Anmok Coffee Street · Gyeongpo Beach · BTS bus stop
- May or June (lunar calendar) Gangneung Danoje Festival
- October Gangneung Coffee Festival
- January 1 New Year sunrise
Sokcho & Seoraksan
속초Korea's most famous mountains meet a seafood harbor town.
- From Seoul
- Express bus about 2h 30m
- Stay
- 1–2 days
Don't miss Seoraksan National Park · Abai Village ferry · Jungang Market
- Early to late October Seoraksan autumn foliage
- January 1 New Year sunrise
- Late spring to autumn Surf season in Yangyang
Guides coming soon
Andong
안동Korea's Confucian heartland, with a living UNESCO village and mask dances.
- From Seoul
- KTX-Eum about 2h
- Stay
- 1 day
Don't miss Hahoe Folk Village · Byeongsan Seowon · Andong jjimdak
- Late September to early October Andong Maskdance Festival
Guides coming soon
Daegu
대구A big, local-feeling city of night markets, modern history and mountain temples.
- From Seoul
- KTX about 1h 50m
- Stay
- 1–2 days
Don't miss Seomun Night Market · Modern history alleys · Apsan Observatory
- July Daegu Chimac Festival
Yeosu
여수A romantic south-coast harbor known for its night sea and island views.
- From Seoul
- KTX about 3h
- Stay
- 1–2 days
Don't miss Hyangiram sunrise · Maritime cable car · Nangman pocha
- Early April Yeongchwisan Azalea Festival
- May Yeosu Turtle Ship Festival
- December 31 to January 1 Hyangiram Sunrise Festival
Tongyeong
통영The 'Naples of Korea': islands, seafood and an artistic harbor town.
- From Seoul
- Express bus about 4h
- Stay
- 1–2 days
Don't miss Dongpirang Mural Village · Cable car · Chungmu gimbap
- Spring Tongyeong International Music Festival
- August Hansan Daecheop Festival
All destinations
Seoul
Palaces, street food, K-pop and nightlife in one huge, easy-to-navigate capital.
부산 · KTX about 2h 40mBusan
Korea's beach city: seafood markets, hillside villages and temples by the sea.
제주 · Flight about 1h 10mJeju
A volcanic island of craters, beaches, tangerine farms and women free-divers.
경주 · KTX about 2h 10mGyeongju
The 1,000-year capital of the Silla kingdom, a museum without walls.
전주 · KTX about 1h 40mJeonju
Korea's food capital, with a hanok village of about 700 traditional houses.
인천 · Subway or AREX about 1hIncheon
Where most visitors land: a historic port, Chinatown and a futuristic new city.
수원 · Subway about 1hSuwon
A UNESCO-listed fortress city, an easy half-day trip from Seoul.
가평 · ITX train about 1hGapyeong & Nami
Riverside day trip from Seoul: Nami Island, gardens and a K-drama theme village.
강릉 · KTX about 2hGangneung
East coast beaches, Korea's coffee town and sunrise over the sea.
속초 · Express bus about 2h 30mSokcho & Seoraksan
Korea's most famous mountains meet a seafood harbor town.
안동 · KTX-Eum about 2hAndong
Korea's Confucian heartland, with a living UNESCO village and mask dances.
대구 · KTX about 1h 50mDaegu
A big, local-feeling city of night markets, modern history and mountain temples.
여수 · KTX about 3hYeosu
A romantic south-coast harbor known for its night sea and island views.
통영 · Express bus about 4hTongyeong
The 'Naples of Korea': islands, seafood and an artistic harbor town.